Trip #5: Paddle & Backpack to Mirror Lake on the Powwow with Verena & Goeran

We are so happy you are interested in volunteering with us. Please read through the whole description.

YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.

MESSAGE THE CREW LEADERS: Verena - verenawalther@gmail.com or Goeran: goeran.walther@gmail.com TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.

TRIP OVERVIEW
For this BWAC volunteering adventure, we will meet at Kawishiwi Lodge (Bunkhouse) or a campsite near a Lake One Entry Point on Wednesday evening (leaving the Cities in the afternoon via carpools). We will depart from Kawishiwi Lodge/Campsite early on Thursday morning and paddle from Lake One to Lake Three (with two short portages), then stash our canoes where the Powwow Trail meets Lake Three. We will then backpack 3.5 challenging miles to the Mirror Lake campsite and set up base camp for 3 nights. The goal is to clear the trail South and North of Mirror Lake with saws, loppers, and root slayers to our trail standards. There is a lot of brush work needed that will require us to dig out lots of roots. We work rain or shine.

WHY VOLUNTEER?
You will meet other like-minded hikers, share your skills and learn new skills from your crew, and have an unforgettable experience helping maintain one of the few hiking-specific trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

ITINERARY
Wednesday, 5/13/26 (Day 1)

• Late Wednesday afternoon carpool from the Twin Cities to the BWCAW.
• Pick up permit from ranger station.
• Spend the night at a campground or the bunkhouse at Kawishiwi Lodge, get organized for next day's departure.
• Dinner will be on the road or at camp, something quick and easy.

Thursday, 5/14/26 (Day 2)

• After checking individual gear, distributing tools, and discussing safety, we will paddle from Lake One to Lake Three (2 portages), stash the canoes where the Powwow Trail meets Lake Three, and then hike approximately 3.5 miles to camp at Mirror Lake.
• Be prepared for water logged sections of the trail, potentially knee deep.
• Set up camp at Mirror Lake, the campsite has a fire crate, a latrine, and places to retrieve water for filtering to drink.
• We will stay at this camp site for 3 nights.

Friday and Saturday, 5/15-5/16, (Days 3 and 4)

• In the morning we'll discuss safety, tool usage, and USFS trail standards. Then we'll make our way to the work area and clear trail, taking time for breaks, until 4-5 pm (crew leader discretion).
• Dinner and tales of the trail at camp.

Sunday, 5/17/26 (Day 5)

• Rise and shine early, eat breakfast an pack up camp, then backpack to our stashed canoes, paddle Lake Three to Lake One's entry point.
• Carpool back to the Twin Cities; optional: have a crew meal together back in civilization.
• Keep in mind we may arrive back late on Sunday night.

NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:

• Physically able to paddle in a canoe for 6 miles, complete portages carrying canoe and gear, and backpack an additional 3.5 miles all in one day. Therefore prior backpacking/canoeing + portaging experience is preferred.
• Attend the required Crew Member Orientation (April 14th at REI Bloomington).
• Attend a required local hike and gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew and trip leaders.

Personal Gear: Gear lists will be provided and a gear shakedown meeting will be held to assess team members’ gear needs. Each team member will be responsible for carrying their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, water, personal gear, borrowed trail tools, and their share of group gear. If there is something you do not have, please let the crew leaders know well in advance of the trip.

BWAC Gear: BWAC will provide: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, hard hats, trail clearing tools, safety training, and BWCA permits. Water sterilization devices and bear canisters are available for use as needed.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or cold days and/or nights. Also be prepared for bugs. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.

Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 4 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container or Ursack with odor-proof liner. Do not assume you'll be able to hang food.

Costs:

• $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs) and
• $20-30 carpool gas money
• $25 for bunkhouse if applicable

THE FINE PRINT:

• Participants are required to sign a (1) liability release form, (2) confidential health form, and (3) USFS trip form prior to the trip. This is a pet-free, alcohol-free, and tobacco-free trip.
• Participation is subject to BWAC rules, i.e., trip leaders can deny participation to anyone for any or no reason. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.
• Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.

Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!